GRADES K-2
Animal Shapes and Colors - “Why is a zebra striped?” In this program students
can use their knowledge of shapes and colors to identify them in nature. They will review some familiar shapes and some animals that look like them. They will discover why an animal’s colors can be critical for their survival.
Sounding Off! - “Why do birds sing and dolphins click?” In this program students will discover a variety of unique animal sounds and learn why animals make them. They will also get to use their vocal chords to imitate animal sounds.
What’s In Your Backyard? -“What animals can you see without going to the zoo?” Find out about the diversity of New York’s animal inhabitants. Students will be surprised to learn that there are animals other than pigeons and squirrels living in their backyards.
Predator/Prey - “How can a population of lynx control a population of hares?” This program focuses on predator/prey relationships, with emphasis on adaptations of predators and prey. Students will also discover the interconnectedness of predator and prey populations.
Cool Classes - (Choice of one: Bird, Mammal, Amphibian, Reptile or Fish) Each program will explore one class of vertebrates. You can choose to learn about birds, the only animals with feathers and a modern day link to dinosaurs; mammals, a class of fur covered animals, including humans; amphibians, animals who spend part of their life in water and part of it on land; reptiles, a diverse class of cold-blooded animals covered in scales; or fish, the wet, scaly, gill breathing animals who live in a world still
African Safari - take an imaginary trip to Africa! Learn
why so many amazing animals live in the Savannah and meet a few
face to face. Teacher Activity Packet available in PDF. format
for downloading
Forest Fantasia - What is a tropical rain forest, and why
is it home to so many special plants and animals? Meet the
awesome, the enchanting and the endangered!
Teacher Activity
Packet available in PDF. format for downloading
It's Alive! - Discover the characteristics of and
differences between living and non-living things and the
relationship between plants and animals.
Let's Be Sensible - Explore the human senses, then learn
how other animals use their unique eyes, ears, noses, tongues,
hands, whiskers, and more!
Teacher Activity Packet available in
PDF. format for downloading
We're All Relatives - This adventure in animal
classification will highlight characteristics of different
classes of animals with backbones.
GRADES 3-5
What’s In Your Backyard? - “What animals can you see without going to the zoo?” Find out about the diversity of New York’s animal inhabitants. Students will be surprised to learn that there are animals other than pigeons and squirrels living in their backyards.
Predator/Prey - “How can a population of lynx control a population of hares?” This program focuses on predator/prey relationships, with emphasis on adaptations of predators and prey. Students will also discover the interconnectedness of predator and prey populations.
Cool Classes - (Choice of one: Bird, Mammal, Amphibian, Reptile or Fish) Each program will explore one class of vertebrates. You can choose to learn about birds, the only animals with feathers and a modern day link to dinosaurs; mammals, a class of fur covered animals, including humans; amphibians, animals who spend part of their life in water and part of it on land; reptiles, a diverse class of cold-blooded animals covered in scales; or fish, the wet, scaly, gill breathing animals who live in a world still
African Safari - The Savannah is a very special home to
the largest land animals, and the largest herds. Discover why
it's cool to be hot!
Teacher Activity Packet available in PDF.
format for downloading.
Radical Rain Forest - Explore layers of life in these
threatened habitats, from subterranean to the high canopy. Then
visit our own Tropical Forest Exhibit.
Teacher Activity Packet
available in PDF. format for downloading
Animal Adaptations - All animals have bodies and
behaviors which help them to survive. Investigate examples of
the bizarre and the common, each fascinating in its own way.
Dinosaurs and Dodos - Going, Going, Gone! What caused the
great dinosaur extinction? What is causing a current bigger
extinction? What can we do to save endangered plants and
animals?.
Incredible Invertebrates - Spineless but special, most
animals in the world do not have backbones. Discover through
classification, the strange, the scary, the amazing world of
insects, spiders, crustaceans, and their kin.
Animal Behavior - They may sometimes seem bizarre, but
animals do what they do for good reasons. Learn "how and why so
you can "read between the lions"
Careers with Animals - Accountants to Zookeepers,
microbiologists and mechanics. Discover the diversity and
excitement of working with animals.
Note: Grades 6-8 may also select special tailored versions of
Grades 3-5 programs.
GRADES 9-12
We offer specially designed versions of Animal Behavior,
Careers with Animals, What’s In Your Backyard?, Predator/Prey and Cool Classes.
These programs are made possible in part by the Natural Heritage
Trust of the New York State Office of Parks and Recreation and
Historic Preservation. The Staten Island Zoo is a New York City
owned facility and is supported in part by the City of New York
through an annual appropriation from the Department of Cultural
Affairs.
These programs are also partially funded by New York State Senator Andrew Lanza, Assemblyman
Matthew Titone and Staten Senator Diane Savino.
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Ella Viola – Director of Education
It is a dream come true for Ella to work at the
Staten Island Zoo as Director of Education. Her love
for nature and animals directed her away from her
first career in the business world. She went back to
school and became a Veterinary Technician. While in
this field she worked for LaGuardia Community
College assisting in all the Veterinary Technician
classes which she thoroughly enjoyed. However,
wanting to work with children and animals was Ella’s
goal and she knew that at the zoo she could realize
her dream.
Starting out as a part-time instructor and birthday
party coordinator for the Education Department, Ella
has been with the Staten Island Zoo since 1998. In
2000 she became Traveling Zoo Instructor and brought
the zoo to many schools throughout the city. Two
years later she was promoted to Assistant Director
of Education before recently taking on the job of
Director of Education. She hopes to be at the zoo
for a long time teaching children about the
wonderful world of animals.
Dave Johnston - Assistant Director of Education
Dave has recently moved to New York to continue his
zoo career. Originally from Pennsylvania, he has a
B.A in Physical Anthropology with minors in
Evolutionary Psychology and Natural Science from
Penn State University. His first zoo job was as a
zookeeper at the Philadelphia Zoo, where he worked
with livestock, program animals, birds of prey,
waterfowl, flamingos, and penguins. He switched
gears to a more educational track by transferring to
the Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown, PA, where he
worked as an environmental educator and youth
program coordinator. At the Staten Island Zoo, Dave
takes the zoo to schools for the Traveling Zoo
program, helps take care of the zoo’s program
animals, and recruits and trains zoo volunteers.
Most recently, he is proud to have started the zoo’s
new Junior Docent program, allowing local teens to
volunteer their time at the zoo.
Frank Indivigilo– Urban Advantage
Coordinator
Frank Indiviglio, a biologist and environmental lawyer, was born in New York City and has spent most of his life working with animals at the Bronx and Staten Island Zoos. Research projects with anacondas and other reptiles, supported by The Wildlife Conservation and National Geographic Societies and featured in National Geographic Magazine, have taken him throughout Latin America. Frank has long sought to promote conservation education through television and radio appearances, and as a teacher at Science Development, Inc. and Columbia Preparatory School.
Frank has written five books and numerous popular and professional articles on the care and conservation of invertebrates, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Currently, Frank is the wildlife consultant for the Staten Island Zoo in New York City and is designing an amphibian exhibit for the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, Connecticut.
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